Series fan and frame set thereof

ABSTRACT

A serial fan is provided and includes a first fan and a second fan. The first fan includes a first frame, and the second fan includes a second frame. The first frame and the second frame form a frame set. The first frame has at least one first locking portion. The second frame has at least one second locking portion disposed corresponding to the first locking portion. When the first fan and the second fan are assembled, the first locking portion inserts in the second locking portion along a rotational direction so that the first frame and the second frame are connected in series.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Non-provisional application claims priority under U.S.C §119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 096218067, field in Taiwan, Republic of China on Oct. 26, 2007, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a series fan and a frame set thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

As electronic products advance toward higher performance, higher frequency, higher velocity and portability, the heats thereof generate to affect reliability and lifespan. Thus, heat dissipation is important for electronic products. Conventionally, a fan is installed as a heat-dissipating device, and in order to increase heat-dissipating effect, several fans are connected together.

In order to connect at least two fans in series, a conventional method is using screws, rivets, or bolts, to combine the frames of the fans. However, such extra components result in a more complicated assembly process, increased labor and increased costs. Moreover, disassembling the fans is difficult, and may even require damaging the frames. Thus, making the fans not useable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a series fan and a frame set thereof which can combine with a plurality of frames without extra components.

In order to achieve the above, the present invention provides a frame set including a first frame and a second frame. The first frame has at least one first locking portion. The second frame has at least one second locking portion disposed corresponding to the first locking portion. The first locking portion inserts in the second locking portion along a rotational direction so that the first frame and the second frame are connected in series.

In order to achieve the above, the present invention provides a series fan including a first fan and a second fan. The first fan has a first frame. The second fan has a second frame. The first frame and the second frame form a frame set. The first frame has at least one first locking portion. The second frame has at least one second locking portion disposed corresponding to the first locking portion. The first locking portion inserts in the second locking portion along a rotational direction so that the first frame and the second frame are connected in series.

For the above-mentioned series fan and frame set thereof, the first locking portion and the second locking portion are located at corners or sides of the first fan or the second fan. The first locking portion is a protruding block or a groove, and the second locking portion is a groove or a protruding block corresponding to the first locking portion. The protruding block has a first guiding surface, and the groove has a protrusion and a blocking portion respectively disposed on two sides of the groove. The protrusion has a second guiding surface. The first guiding surface and the second guiding surface have an inclined surface, a curved surface or a smooth surface having other shapes. Thus, when the first frame is assembled with the second frame, the first guiding surface contacts with the second guiding surface for guiding the protruding block into the groove. The blocking portion is disposed higher than the protrusion to block the protruding block into the groove in other directions different from the rotational direction.

Moreover, the first frame of the frame set has a bottom and a plurality of first locking portions disposed on the bottom of the first frame and located at corners or sides of the first frame. The second frame has a bottom and a plurality of second locking portions disposed on the bottom of the second frame and located at corners or sides of the second frame.

Further, the first frame of the frame set has a bottom, a plurality of first locking portions and a plurality of second locking portions. The first locking portions and the second locking portions are disposed on the bottom of the first frame. The first locking portions and the second locking portions are arranged by interlacing or arranged side by side. Arrangement is not limited. The second frame has a bottom, a plurality of first locking portions and a plurality of second locking portions corresponding to the first frame. The first locking portions and the second locking portions are disposed on the bottom of the second frame and located at corners or sides of the second frame. The amount of the first locking portions of the first frame is equal to or different from that of the second locking portions of the first frame.

For the above-mentioned series fan and frame set thereof, the first locking portions and the second locking portions respectively have a hole for connecting to an outer system. When the first frame is assembled with the second frame, the rotational direction is counterclockwise.

For the above-mentioned series fan, the first fan and the second fan respectively have an impeller.

In summary, each frame of the series fan and a frame set thereof of the present invention has at least one locking portion. The frames are connected in series via the locking portion. Compared with prior art, the present invention, without extra components, provides combined frames. Further, the assembly process is simplified, manual labor is decreased, and costs are decreased. When taking apart the series fan, the locking portion in a combined state can easily become unlocked portions in separate states. Thus, not damaging the fans, allowing for easy assembly/disassembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a series fan of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the frame set in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a vertical view showing the process where a first locking portion is assembled with a second locking portion according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 3B is a vertical view showing the assembly of a first locking portion and a second locking portion according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is an upward view of another embodiment of a first frame of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C is an upward view of a second frame of a first frame in FIG. 4A; and

FIGS. 5A and 5B are upward views of another two embodiments of a first frame of the present invention.

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading the subsequent detailed description and examples with references made to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of a series fan of the present invention. The series fan has a first fan 10 and a second fan 20. The first fan 10 has a first frame 11 and a first impeller 14. The second fan 20 has a second frame 21 and a second impeller (not shown). The first fan 10 and the second fan 20 are connected in series to drive airflow.

Simultaneously referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the frame set in FIG. 1. The first frame 11 and the second frame 21 form a frame set A. The first frame 11 has at least one first locking portion 12. The second frame 21 has at least one second locking portion 22. The first locking portion 12 is disposed on the bottom 13 of the first frame 11. The second locking portion 22 corresponding to the first locking portion 12 is disposed on the bottom 23 of the second frame 21. Thus, the first frame 11 and the second frame 21 are connected in series via the engagement of the first locking portion 12 and the second locking portion 22. If increased fixing efficiency is required, the first locking portion 11 and the second locking portion 21 respectively can have a hole H for for connecting to an outer system.

Simultaneously referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, FIG. 3A is a vertical view, showing the process where a first locking portion is assembled with a second locking portion according to FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a vertical view showing the assembly of a first locking portion and a second locking portion according to FIG. 2. To clearly show the relative position where the first locking portion 12 is assembled with the second locking portion 22, FIG. 3B does not show a complete first frame 11, but only shows the first locking portion 12. When the first frame 11 is assembled with the second frame 21, the first locking portion 12 is rotated along a rotational direction “X” and engaged with the second locking portion 22, as seen in FIG. 2A. The first locking portion 12 has a protruding block or a groove. The second locking portion 22 has a groove or a protruding block corresponding to the first locking portion 12. In this embodiment, the first locking portion 12 has a protruding block 121, the second locking portion 22 has a groove 221 and the rotational direction is counterclockwise. The protruding block 121 of the first locking portion 12 is engaged with the groove 221 of the second locking portion 22.

Following, assembling of the first locking portion 12 and the second locking portion 22 will be further disclosed. The protruding block 121 of the first locking portion 12 has a first guiding surface 122. There is a protrusion 222 at one side of the groove 221. The protrusion 222 has a second guiding surface 224. Each of the first guiding surface 122 and the second guiding surface 224 is an inclined surface, a curved surface or a smooth surface having other shapes. When the first frame 11 rotates corresponding to the second frame 12 for assembly, the first guiding surface 122 of the protruding block 121 of the first locking portion 12 contacts with the second guiding surface 224 of the protrusion 222 of the second locking portion 22. Thus, friction decreases to provide the protruding block 121 to enter the groove 221 along the second guiding surface 224, as shown in FIG. 3B.

Further, to avoid forced assembly error resulting in damage, another side of the groove 221 has a blocking portion 223 disposed corresponding to the protrusion 222 and higher than the protrusion 222. Thus, the blocking portion 223 provides fool-proof efficiency, as shown in FIG. 3B. If a user rotates the first locking portion 12 along a direction contrary to the rotational direction X shown in FIG. 3A, the protruding block 121 of the first locking portion 12 can not be rotated to assemble and is blocked by the blocking portion 223. Referring to FIG. 3B, when disassembling the series fan, the protruding block 121 disposed in the groove 211 is blocked by the blocking portion 223 and is higher than protrusion 222. Therefore, the protruding block 121 fixed to the second locking portion 22, is not rotated along a direction toward the blocking portion 223 for release. The protruding block 121 is released along a direction contrary to the rotational direction X. Thus, product damage resulting from directional force exerted by a user in a wrong direction is prevented.

Installation of the locking portions is shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C. FIG. 4A is an upward view of another embodiment of a first frame of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4C is an upward view of a second frame of a first frame in FIG. 4A. In FIG. 4A, the first locking portions 32 are located at corners or sides of the first frame 31. In FIG. 4A, the second locking portions 42 corresponding to the first locking portions 32 are located at corners or sides of the second frame 41. Thus, when the first frame 31 is assembled with the second frame 41, the first frame 31 is aimed at the second frame 41 first, and then the first frame 31 is rotated. Thus, completing the assembly of the first frame 31 and the second frame 41.

Moreover, the first locking portion 12a and the second locking portion 22a are not limited to be disposed only on a single frame. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, FIGS. 5A and 5B are upward views of another two embodiments of a first frame of the present invention. A plurality of first locking portions 52 and a plurality of second locking portions 53 are located at corners or sides of the first frames 51A and 51B. The first locking portions 52 and the second locking portions 53 are arranged by interlacing (shown in FIG. 5A) or arranged side by side (shown in FIG. 5B). The second frames corresponding to the first frames 51A and 51B have a plurality of first locking portions and a plurality of second locking portions. Note that the number of the first locking portions 52 and the second locking portions 53 on the first frames 51A and 51B are not limited. The number of the first locking portions 52 may be equal to or different from that of the second locking portions 53. Main requirement is that the first frames 51A and 51B can be engaged with the second frames.

In summary, each frame of the series fan and a frame set thereof of the present invention has at least one locking portion. The frames are connected in series via the locking portion. Compared with prior art, the present invention, without extra components, provides combined frames. Further, the assembly process is simplified, manual labor is decreased, and costs are decreased. When taking apart the series fan, the locking portion in a combined state can easily become unlocked portions in separate states. Thus, not damaging the fans, allowing for easy assembly/disassembly.

While the present invention has been described by way of example and in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements. 

1. A frame set, comprising: a first frame, having at least one first locking portion; and a second frame, having at least one second locking portion disposed corresponding to the first locking portion; wherein the first locking portion inserts in the second locking portion along a rotational direction so that the first frame and the second frame are connected in series.
 2. The frame set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking portion comprises a protruding block or a groove and the second locking portion comprises a groove or a protruding block corresponding to the first locking portion.
 3. The frame set as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protruding block comprises a first guiding surface, the groove comprises a protrusion and a blocking portion respectively disposed on two sides of the groove, and the protrusion comprises a second guiding surface, which contacts the first guiding surface to guide the protruding block into the groove when the first frame and the second frame are assembled.
 4. The frame set as claimed in claim 3, wherein the blocking portion blocks the protruding block into the groove in other directions different from the rotational direction, and the blocking portion is disposed higher than the protrusion.
 5. The frame set claimed in claim 3, wherein the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface comprise an inclined surface, a curved surface or a smooth surface having other shapes.
 6. The frame set claimed in claim 1, wherein the first frame further comprises a bottom and a plurality of first locking portions disposed on the bottom of the first frame, the second frame further comprises a bottom and a plurality of second portions disposed on the bottom of the second frame.
 7. The frame set claimed in claim 6, wherein the first locking portions and the second locking portions are located at corners or sides of the first frame and second frame, respectively.
 8. The frame set claimed in claim 1, wherein the first frame further comprises a bottom, a plurality of first locking portions and a plurality of second locking portions, the first locking portions and the second locking portions are disposed on the bottom of the first frame and located at corners or sides of the first frame, and the first and second locking portions are arranged by interlacing or side by side.
 9. The frame set as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second frame further comprises a bottom, a plurality of first locking portions and a plurality of second locking portions, the first locking portions and the second locking portions are disposed on the bottom of the second frame, and the arrangement of the first and second locking portions of the second frame is corresponding to the arrangement of the second and first locking portions of the first frame.
 10. The frame set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first locking portion or the second locking portion further comprises a hole for connecting to an outer system.
 11. The frame set as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotational direction is counterclockwise.
 12. A series fan, comprising: a first fan having a first frame, and the first frame comprising at least one first locking portion; and a second fan having a second frame, and the second frame comprising at least one second locking portion corresponding to the first locking portion; wherein when the first frame is assembled with the second frame to form a frame set, the first locking portion inserts in the second locking portion along a rotational direction so that the first frame and the second frame are connected in series.
 13. The series fan as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first locking portion comprises a protruding block or a groove and the second locking portion comprises a groove or a protruding block corresponding to the first locking portion.
 14. The series fan as claimed in claim 13, wherein the protruding block comprises a first guiding surface, the groove comprises a protrusion and a blocking portion respectively disposed on two sides of the groove, and the protrusion comprises a second guiding surface, which contacts the first guiding surface to guide the protruding block into the groove when the first frame and the second frame are assembled.
 15. The series fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the blocking portion blocks the protruding block into the groove in other directions different from the rotational direction, and the blocking portion is disposed higher than the protrusion.
 16. The series fan as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first guiding surface and the second guiding surface comprise an inclined surface, a curved surface or a smooth surface having other shapes.
 17. The series fan as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first frame further comprises a bottom and a plurality of first locking portions disposed on the bottom of the first frame, the second frame further comprises a bottom and a plurality of second portions disposed on the bottom of the second frame.
 18. The series fan as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first locking portions and the second locking portions are disposed at corners or sides of the first frame and the second frame, respectively.
 19. The series fan as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first frame further comprises a bottom, a plurality of first locking portions and a plurality of second locking portions, the first locking portions and the second locking portions are disposed on the bottom of the first frame and located at corners or sides of the first frame, and the first and second locking portions are arranged by interlacing or side by side.
 20. The series fan as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second frame further comprises a bottom, a plurality of first locking portions and a plurality of second locking portions and the first locking portions and the second locking portions are disposed on the bottom of the second frame, and the arrangement of the first and second locking portions of the second frame is corresponding to the arrangement of the second and first locking portions of the first frame. 